ANALYSIS Questions:
1. Look at and think about your hand.
a. Where would you expect to have more touch receptors: on the palm of your hand or on the back of your hand? Explain your ideas.
b. Explain how you could test your answer to item 1a.
2. When your partner touched you with the toothpick points in the activity “Can You Feel the Difference?” how did you sense it? Describe or draw the path through the nervous system that enabled you to identify if it was a 1- or 2-point touch.
3. Review your results from the activity “Can You Feel the Difference?”. Based on what you now know, where on your arm—fingers, palm, or forearm—do you have the fewest touch receptors?
4. Imagine you just dipped your foot into a swimming pool. You expected the pool to be warm, but it was ice cold! Which of your body systems help you gather and synthesize information to react to this situation? Explain the cause and effect sequence that leads to your reaction.